About year ago I went to pick up my daughter at a sleepover (why does anyone use that term? We know they dont sleep) party at a friend’s from school. The mom, who I did not know well, asked me…

The slumber room at the undertakers is quite large and designed so that people will come in, view the body, and then mill about and talk about the deceased. Well Arlyss did not agree. The room was as I described but the dynamics were quite different. A…

I am tired. TAh-erd. Despite now (mostly) sleeping through the night, I am still bagged by the end of every day. Something about the work/kids/life/marriage/exercise/home/friends balance (or lack thereof) is just taking it out of me. I know I’ll look…

I pulled into my driveway at breakneck speed on Sunday- you know, the day of rest- with my girls in the car- a little pressed for time and needing to get to a million things, as usual. My neighbour knocked…

The last time my friend Kristin came to visit, Brinley looked like this:Fast forward a year and a half and Kristin is back from Switzerland and this is what you get:My dear friend flew across the ocean to spend time…

As I wrote about last week as I sat in the Calgary airport, I went to Alberta to spend a week with Tanya and her family. It was a work week, which is why I was flown in. Everett and … Continue reading →

Home is where you feel safe, comfortable and welcome.

Yeah, we feel very much at home with our old friends at A Creative Revolution. Who wouldn’t?

So, bookmark this. We may live in the swamp but even a proud rodent loves a comfy place to call ho…

Do you guys remember my college roommate Tanya, who I wrote about a few weeks ago? Man, that post was so fun to write, and the comment/email/Facebook exchanges with the girls I dormed with twenty (!) years ago made me … Continue reading →

This package arrived earlier this week. It came with a lovely note.It was sent by someone who I deeply admire. Who makes me smile on a regular basis. Kind, witty and smart as all get out. As cool as…

" I love my friends. They only take the important stuff seriously. Never themselves "You know those women who are really uptight and always have to do everything a certain way, and think before they speak, wear loose cardigans in…

Brooklyn funk punks Friends released a couple of fantastic singles in 2011, most notably the irresistibly cool, “I’m His Girl.” The quintet have their debut album, Manifest!, coming out on June 4th via Lucky Number. BBC’s Zane Lowe premiered the new single, “Mind Control,” on his Radio 1 show last night, giving it the “Hottest [...]

Apres dinner recaps in our open air dining on the Mara, KenyaIt’s been more than a year and a half since Kidlet and I took our trip to Kenya. But I knew then that the life-altering experience was one that would keep on giving – and it has – in so many …

Delivered to my front porch by a (not so) mystery person The coffee and chocolate get me through the days but the people who surround me, they get me through life. Top of the list in my gratitude journal? The people….

Not the T.V. show, no, because that has thankfully started again. PHEW. I miss the community of friends both online and off, because I just feel so … disconnected. I leave for work at 7:30 on a good day – … Continue reading →

Right now I am in Victoria, enjoying the day walking around the harbour, eating fresh crepes at a little cafe, sipping an iced coffee, buying wine and counting down the minutes until I see The Hunger Games in theatre. It’s…

I’ve written about the difficult balance between giving Cam freedom to do what he wants and making sure he stays safe and makes good choices.  Letting the leash out.It’s actually been easy in some respects. Our street is loaded with…

In early September of 1992, my Dad and I got into his truck with my wee little Chevrolet Chevette (affectionately called “The Raisin” by my friends, because it was a deep shade of purple when I got it)(which was before … Continue reading →

Each week, Torontoist examines the upcoming TV listings and makes note of programs that are entertaining, informative, and of quality. Or, alternately, none of those. The result: Televisualist. Monday Dancing With The Stars returns once more, to dance on the ruin of human civilization. (Memo to the makers of the next Fallout game: You’re crazy [...]

Sleep-overs: late-night whispers, games of Truth-or-Dare, popcorn, pillow fights, pranks, girly movies. I have so many great memories of slumber parties with my girlfriends. There was nothing quite so great as asking your mom if so-and-so could sleep over and…

I have begin my “40 by 40″ challenge. I’ve decided to write (and send by post) 40 letters; one to each of 40 individuals who email me and ask for a letter, before I turn 40 (this won’t happen for … Continue reading →…